Machine for molding spools or similar forms from pulp



{No Model.) 7 4 SheetsSheet 2.

E. HUBBARD. MACHINE FOR MOLDING SPOOLS 0R SIMILAR FORMS FROM PULP.

No. 517,924. Patented Apr. 10, 1894.

m: NATIONAL LITHOGIIAFHING cQMPANY.

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(No Model.) ,4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

I E. HUBBARD; MACHINE FOR MOLDING SPOO LS 0R SIMILAR FORMS FROM PULP. No. 517,924. Patented Apr. 10, 1894'.

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E.'HUBBARD. MACHINE FOR MOLDING SPOOLS 0R SIMILAR FORMS FROM PULP.

Patented Apr R um THE NATIONAL Lmwwmma COMFANY,

WASHINGTON. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EBER HUBBAED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLIMANTIC LINEN COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR MOLDING SPOOLS 0R SIMILAR FORMS FROM PULP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,924, dated April 10,1894. Application filed August '7, 1893 Serial No. 482,571. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, EBER. HUBBARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county'of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Molding Spools or Similar Forms from Pulp, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is-to provide a mechanism in which articles may be mold ed from fibrous pulp, the details being particularly designed with reference to molding half spools to be afterward united to form complete spools; but the general features of the invention are applicable to other articles.

In general character the machine is a press,

and adapted to be operated by hydraulic pressure, but not absolutely limited to that mode of operation.

In the drawings:-Figure 1 is a front elevation of the press and connected mechanism; the parts being in position of rest preparatory to filling the molds with pulp. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the position of the parts being the same as in Fig. 1, except that the pulp gates into the mold are closed. Fig. 3 is a vertical.

section at the line 33 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section at the line 4-4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan of the bed of the press and mechanism thereon for raising and lowering the molds. Fig. 6 is a detail section at the line 6-6 on Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detail section at the-line 77 on Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a perspective of a portion of a rib employed in the bottom of the molds to form a furrow in the molded form. I g

The frame of the press comprises the base A, and upper cap A, corner posts A A by which the base and cap are rigidly bound together.

B is the bed which is adapted to reciprocate vertically within the four corner posts, being mounted upon the upper end of the ram of a hydraulic-press, whose cylinder A is rigid with the base A. The bed B is channeled as shown at b b, &c., for the purpose of permitting the drainage from it of the water which will be forced out of the pulp by compression in molding. The bed is covered with a perforated sheet I), said sheet constituting the lower Wall of the molds which are mounted upon the bed.

O O C, &c., are molds, all of precisely similar construction, which arelocated, in any number which the bed may accommodate, upon the upper surfacethereof. Twelve such molds are shown in the drawings. The form to be molded in this press is half of a large spool divided longitudinally, so that it has one surface flat except as to the semi-cylindrical groove which is half of the axial aperture through the complete spool. verse section, therefore, of each of the molds has precisely the outline of the fiat face of the half spool or diametrical section of the spool, and the twelve molds of this character are arranged together in a rectangular group four spools wide and three spools long,that is, three of said form arranged end to end determining one dimension of the group, and four placed side by side, determining the other dimension. The side walls 0 O, &c., of each mold cavity, correspond in horizontal contour to an axial section ofthe spool.

The spaces 0 c, which, by reason of the contour of the molded half spools, are left between them as they lie completed on the bed, permit the easy escape of the water through the perforated cover I) thereof into the drainage channels; and thence freelyofi the bed by whatever course of drainage may be provided. The end walls and partitions between the ends of the several cavities are formed by. metal plates 0 O 860., to which tion that they extend lengthwise through the several mold cavities at the middle'point of A transabove the perforated sheet bin such 'posithe bottom of each where the half round groove is to be formed in the half spool. These ribs are longitudinally grooved or fluted, the grooves and intervening ribs being quite fine and being shown in magnified View in Fig. 8. The purpose of this detail of construction will be hereinafter explained.

The height of the mold cavities G is such as to adapt them to contain such a quantity of liquid pulp as will suffice when the water is forced out of it and the pulp reduced to a solid, to form one of'the half spools to be molded. In practice, the height will be enough greater than the estimated necessity to 'allow for the necessary variation in the consistency of the pulp, and the operator will fill the molds to a greater or less depth, according to the consistency of the pulp with which he is operating, being guided by his experience in that respect. To the cap A of the press frame are secured the stems of the followers Dd Dd Dd Dd, &c., which operate pistonwise in the mold cavities to compress the pulp therein, such followers constituting the upper wall of the mold cavity in that process. The followers present, therefore, on their lower face the precise outline of the curved surface of the half spool, and are perforated to permit the free escape of water upward through them, as they compress the pulp in the mold. Each of these followers is made in two pieces, being divided longitudinally at the middle point, and each piece has an independent stem D, d, respectively, the stem D being rigidly fastened to the cap, as described, and the stem d being guided vertically on the stem D, and retained closely in its guide-bearings on that stem, so that the two parts Dd of the follower are inseparablelaterally, and have with respect to each other only a slightly vertical movement for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. In detail, the construction is that the stem D has thelugs D D undercut to form dovetailed slide-bearings for the stem d, which has its edges (Z d beveled to fit the undercut lugs, and be guided and retained thereby. A spring D connected at one end to the stem D, and at the other end to the stem (1 tends to hold the latter stem up against the stop lug D on the stem D, which is the position at which the part d coincides with the part D, to make the complete follower Dd conform to the shape of the half spool. Levers d respectively fulcrumed upon the stems D and having offsets d which project through those stems d, and engage the margin of the apertures through which they project in the latter stems, are encountered by the mold cases 0 C respectively, so that when the latter are lifted from the bed, as hereinafter explained, after the bed commences to descend, they operate the levers 01*, and force downward the parts d of the followers Dd a short distance, with the effect of disengaging the molded half-spools from the fixed parts of the followers, and because their adhesion to the other part is not suflicient to retain them, causing them to drop freely onto the bed and be carried down with the farther descent of the latter.

For the purpose of lifting the group of mold cases 0 O C, &c., from the bed after the compressing is done, I provide four lugs c 0 &c., projecting from the outer wall plates of the group of mold cases near the four corners of the group, in such position that they may be connected respectively to the upper ends of vertically reciprocating rods E E E, &c., which are guided vertically in hearings on the bed, and actuated as will now be described. The

lower portion of each of these vertically reciprocating rods E E is provided with rack teeth e e, &c.,' and two shafts e c journaled below the bed have each at opposite ends pinions E E, which engage these racks respect ively; to one of these shafts a crank handle 0 is attached. The rotation of the one shaft having this crank handle is communicated to the other shaft by means of pinions E E on the two shafts and horizontal rack-bars E guided on the bed and having their rack teeth engaging with the pinions E E so that the rotation of one of the shafts e produces rotation in the same direction of the other shaft e, and the four pinions, one at each end of each of the shafts e, engaging the racks on the rods E E, lift the four corners of the group of molds G O G, &c., simultaneously and equally, a reverse movement of the mechanism tendiug to lower the group.

For the purpose of charging the mold with liquid pulp, such pulp is conducted through a stand pipe F, in which it is forced by suitable pumping mechanism not shown; and upon each end plate C of the group of the molds O C 0 there is fixed a trough 0 from the bottom of which a pipe C extends downward and makes a telescoping connection with the upstanding end of the pipe F; and the end partition walls 0 have toward the upper edge, gateways 0 through which pulp, introduced into the trough through the pipes F and C, may flow into the molds and from mold to mold until all are filled to the required height. These gateways are each provided with a sliding gate or valve C, which are connected together in rows by the rods C whose ends project at opposite ends of the group of molds to permit them to be engaged and operated, and operate the gates. For this purpose, rocking trip bars G G are pivoted at the ends of their lever arms G G to the press frame, and adapted, when rocked inward toward the frame, to stand in position to arrest the ends of the rods (J as the molds O O descend, and thereby hold the gates up while the descent of the molds is continued, thus opening the gateways. Springs g may be provided, tending to hold the rocking trip bars Gin the position described and to throw them back into that position when they are withdrawn. When it is desired to close the valves, as will be done when the molds are ICC filled with pulp preparatory to compressing,

the operator will rock the trip bars'outwar'd and the weight of the gates and their con nectlng rods will cause them all to fall into closed position. Conveniently, the ends of the rods 0 may be bent'up or widened Vertically, so.

- ward under the'ends of the rods, and be in position to operate the gates upon the next descent.

In operating thismachin e, the parts will be first at the position shown in Fig. 1, the bed being at the lowest point, and the molds O O O, &c., resting upon the bed, the followers Dd, 850., being entered into the upper ends of the molds C C, 850., but not below the gateways O which are open, the gates 0 being held up by the trip bars. The depending pipe terminal 0 of the trough 0 will be telescoped into the upstanding end of the pulp supply pipe F, and upon the opening of the pulp-controlling valve F in, such pipe the pulp will flow up into the trough and thence into the several molds until they are filled to the desired height. closed,water being admitted to operate the hydraulic ram, thebed rises, carrying up the molds, so that the followers Dd, remaining fixed in position, traverse the mold cavities longitudinally as the latter rise, forcing the water from the pulp through the perforations, both of the sheet 12 and of the followers, until the followers have reached the bottom of the molds, when the requisite degree of compression will have been obtained if the quantity of pulp admitted has been properly gaged. The operation of the ram now ceasing, the operator will rotate the crank 0 to lift the mold cases 0 two or three inches, causing the follower still holding the molded forms on the bed, to emerge from the lower end of the molds, and permit the water thenabove the follower to drain out. The Water will flow off through the perforated sheet 1) upon the top of the bed and through the grooves in the latter. The bed being now permitted to descend, as soon as it starts down, the operator will further lift the group of molds O O O a little faster than the bed descends, and bring the upper edges of the molds up against the levers (Z and thereby force downward the member d of the follower, causing it to push the molded half spools-off from the other members D, and cause them to fall onto the bed directly beneath the lower ends of the molds in which they were formed respectively. This movement will be performed preferably before the bed has descended more than just far enough to permit the necessary downward movement of the portion d of the followers, so that the molded forms will not be marred in dropping the short distance to the bed.

The valve F being then As the bed continues to descend the operator will continue to operate the crankand increase the distance between the molds and the bed, although the molds will now be permitted to' descend absolutely,that is, will not be elevated by the rotation of the crank so fast as they are carried down with the bed, but the elevation provided for by the crankoperated mechanism is sufficient to lift the molds above the bed far enough to permit the molded half spools to be removed sidewise from the bed preparatory to repeating the operation.

(As a matter of convenience, the sheet I) may serve as a tray with which to remove all at once the entire group of half spools produced at each operation,that is, such sheet need not be fastened to the bed, and a number of such sheets being provided afresh one may be put in place after such removal, the molded forms remaining upon the sheet upon which they were removed from the press while being further handled, until sufficiently dry to be past danger of bruising.)

By reason of the peculiar character of fibrous pulp I have found thatin compressing forms of the shape of these half spools after a certain degree of solidity is obtained by forcing out the moisture,.the material not being entirely plastic tends to break apart over the rib which forms the groovein the flat face of the half spool, and many defective spools would ordinarily result from this circumstance. I overcome this tendency and produce spools which are perfect in this ,respect by means of the longitudinal fiuting or grooving of the ribs 0 In Fig.8, this structure is represented in magnified form. In practice, the furrows c are not deep enough to render unevenness of the surface of the groove greater than can readily be cured in the process of dressing which is necessary in any event. I have made them from onethirty-second to one-sixteenth of an inch deep,

and so far as I have observed, the precise form is not material,-that is, the grooves may be triangular or semi-cylindrical or of any other shape, the requisite being that ridges are left standing upon the semi-cylindrical surface of the ribs 0 by which, as I presume, the fibers of partly compacted pulp arel detained and prevented from sliding over the inclined surface of the rib during subsequent pressure, as they would otherwise do, with the effect of rupturing the molded form, as above stated."

I claim- 1. In combination with the press frame, the bed adapted to be reciprocated vertically; the mold cases 0 C C, 850., supported on the bed and adapted to be elevated from it; the followers. rigid with the frame, in line respectively with the mold cavities of themold cases 0, and adapted to fit in and traverse the same pistonwise as the bed rises; substantially as set forth. r

2. In combination with the press frame, the

nal movement: substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the press frame and the bed adapted to be reciprocated vertically therein, the mold cases supported on the bed; the trough G at one side of the mold cases, said mold cases having gateways near their upper ends through their side and partition walls; whereby the pulp may flow from the trough into the mold cavities; the gates or valves which close such gateways adapted to slide vertically; and the trip bars G on the frame in position to detain the gates while the molds descend and thereby to open the gates: substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with the bed and the mold cases carried thereon, the trough O having communication with the molds; the supply pipe F, and the depending pipe terminal C, of the trough adapted to telescope with the up-standing end of the supply pipe as the molds descend: substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with a mold for liquid pulp, and a piston follower by which the pulp may be compressed therein; a ridge or elevation in the bottom of the mold cavities to produce a groove or furrow in the molded form, such ridge being provided with slight projections: substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In combination with the mold O for the half-spool form having a flat bottom with a longitudinal rib; and the follower adapted to operate pistonwise in such mold cavity, the longitudinal rib being longitudinally furrowed, ribbed or fluted: substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In combination with the bed and the molds O 0 carried thereon, two-part followers Dd, projecting downward into the upper ends of such molds; the lever 65 fulcrumed upon one of said parts and operating upon the other, and having one end exposed in the path of the mold, whereby the latter at the upper limit of its movement operates the lever to reciprocate the movable member of the follower: substantially as set forth.

8. In combination with the bed, the molds O O thereon; the uprights E E constituting supports for the group of molds, the shafts journaled in the bed having pinions E, engaging the racks on said uprights, and the pinions E and the horizontal racks E meshing with said pinions E whereby the rota tion of one of said shafts elevates simultaneously all four of the uprights: substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Chicago, Illinois, this 24th day of July, A. D. 1893, in the presence of two witnesses.

EBER. HUBBARD.

Witnesses:

CHAS. S. BURTON, JEAN ELLIOTT. 

